E3: Odama turns strategy on its head
by Ben Zackheim 
{ May 19th 2005 at 7:57PM }
This thing better come out for the DS, or I'll whine more than usual. Odama is a pinball strategy war game. That's
right. Mountains are bumpers, buildings are power-ups and two massive flippers protect your troops until you give the
marching orders.
The point of the level I played was to get the soldiers to the top of the screen where a big wooden door protects the
enemy's fort. The enemy troops are trying to push a marker down the screen and into your territory. You need to do
everything you can to stop them. Use the flippers to roll the ball over them (but be careful of your own troops) or use
your forces (at strategic times) to outfight the bad guys. You get a mic for the controller that allows you to bark
orders like "March!" or "Stop!" and the troops will dutifully follow them. If you manage to break the opponent's door
down with your Odama, and slip your troops through, you win.
The hook of the game is similar to the gun turret levels in Armed & Dangerous. Youre being overwhelmed by the other side and you need to throw your entire arsenal at them. But, unlike A&D, Odama demands clear thinking as you strategize troop tactics while playing a twitch game.
This is the kind of innovative, weird title that will keep Nintendo in the game. And they know it, as the pic above proves (that banner is probably 30 feet tall). Its due out this Fall.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Albert Omoss @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
Wow, what an incredibly creative concept. Nintendo is by far the most creative of the big three but the DS hasn't really impressed me yet as being very creative; most of the games make use of the touch screen and microphone in the exact same way. For the Revolution to beat the PS3 and Xbox 360, its gonna take about a hundred of genre bending games like this.
Seth L @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
So is this for Gamecube? Or is it a JDM only title?
J S K @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
#2, maybe it will be both (for the GCN and JDM only).
I hope not, though. I remember reading about this game from IGN's E3 coverage last year (I think). I was wondering what happened to this title. I, for one, was looking forward to it.
Richard H @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I loved this game, couldn't stop playing it. it was orginally to be played with the donkey kongo drums but they changed to the microphone instead. cant wait for this game.
GamerHeaven @ Dec 18th 2005 8:45PM
I've been watching this title since last year's E3, sadly last year's E3 pretty much held all the info, so this is great news for me.
Can't wait for this to hit the Cube, personally I'd have preferred the bongo control, but the mic will have to do. At least it means I'll get a mic for the system.